The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-09
RUSSIA.
. An Americans Views OF Her Gov
eminent and People.

To understand Russia. her imperial
ism and her institutions, and especially
TO appreciate the tyranny here. and to
know why such violent efforts are
made to destroy the Car and his des-
potic government, the people must
first be understood. The people. more
than the country, make republic, a
kingdom, or an empire, what it is.
Amcri cans. more than any other
race, oppose violence as n means of re-
form. The franchise of the people
works reformation, etogether with the
customs which bring abou. changes in
Office. But in country where there
is no such thing as the ballot. and
corruption, untitness and Latllral cir
cumstances do not change official
make-ups, the people are driven to
other means than political to work re-
forms. Here the throne is the inherit
ance of a single family, and officers
OF the empire are never punished for
crimes against the people. A Russian
may with impunity and in cold blood
murder q whole family. if it has no
connection with the throne, enter q
plea of guilty, and be sure, under no
condition, that his action will cost him
his life. He will go to prison. proba-
bly, exile in Siberia, for few years.
But if he is found guilty of utterances
against member of the royal family,
or in opposition to the imperial rule, he
is taken from his home. shop, store, or
Office, and never more is heard of. His
life pays the penalty
had read much in romancing liter
aturc about the mysterious disap.
pearaccs " of people in Russia who
wrote or spoke against the highland
cd imperiousncss of the Car, but came
u st. Petersburg ready to diSCredit it
all. | believed it might have been true
one day, but that it could not be now.
In the face of danger one is less apprc-
ciativc of ii; vet in the capital of Rus
sia am ready TO confirm tue most that
/ have heard of the dungeons, the gull
lotinc and Siberia. ...-.. - .-------
The condition of affairs in, this coun-
try can be surmised when it is known
that there are no free schools. and
none of private nature free from the
personal supervision of the Cars CEN
sor. Not line of printed matter
comes into the territory that is not
scruinIzed by the censor of the press.
not a telegram sent in or out without
the same inspection, and nothing will
be suffered in any form by tongue or
ink, which, takes exception 10 any feat
ure Of the Government or suggests any
other form Of government To violate
this law is TO court death. And one
does not have to persist in violating
this law TO meet with swift punish
ment. Once is sufficient. For Il mild
form of indiscrctiOn exile in Siberia or
life sentence in the dungeons is pro-
scribcd. IL the offense is positive the
offender goes to the island. into the
garrison, and is soon beyond the call
of mortal subjects. His remains are
thrown into the pit.
Forty-,wo miles up the river Neva
from St Petersburgh is n fortress
where enough blood has been shed. in
expiation Of alleged crimes against the
empire to foat British man Of war.
1t is long. quaint old structure. made
of stone. and the Nova, though mar
row river. broadens just enough at
that point to give it complete Protec-
ton against land approach. 1t should
occupy place in the background oil
Dante's Inferno. On the parapets or
wall overlooking the water are always
n number Of sentincls who are in
structcd TO shoot down without cores
mony any person who attempts to
land. Only officers with fresh vic
TINS are permitted To approach the
fortress. and many are the stories
about innocent strangers. fishing or
rowing. who have bsen murdered In
their efforts 10 visit tile place. Herr
those who ara condemned 10 death or
hfe sentence are brought. anu Is u